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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Wednesday, April 16, 2003

With Microsoft, there is no such thing as failed technology
You know, everyone makes fun of Microsoft Bob, but the simple truth is that the company didn't waste a cent developing that product because the stupid little avatar characters from Bob were reused and enhanced in Microsoft Office, which has about 400 million users, in Windows XP Search, and in Microsoft Agent (and probably in other places I'm unaware of). But Bob isn't the only example of a Microsoft technology that we all a) make fun of but b) use every single day unknowningly. Another obvious example is the Channel Bar, one of the many ill-fated technologies from Internet Explorer 4.0/Windows Shell Update (the others were Active Desktop and one-click HTML-like shell navigation). You don't believe the Channel Bar is dead? Then explain to me what the hell this is, exactly. Unbelievable. Oh, and by the way: This product has over 20 million active users. I'd say the Channel Bar is not only alive and well, but thriving. Anyone care to make fun of any other "failed" Microsoft technology?

[ Posted at 9:54 AM | Permalink ]